Book Description

1905 is a pivotal year in the development of football and its rules. Commonly known as the injury crisis of 1905, the year was among the bloodiest in football's history. Some reports contend that up to 25 players were killed as a result of injuries sustained on the field. In actuality, that number is probably exaggerated. Nevertheless, there were certainly multiple deaths and dozens of serious injuries. Enough, in fact, that President Theodore Roosevelt, who was a football fan, called a meeting of expert representatives to address the future of the sport. The resulting reforms introduced several new rules to slow down the pace and limit physical contact in the sport. The creation of a legal "forward pass," the reduction of downs to four and the placement of a neutral zone between the two lines were among the most dramatic changes. This 1906 Spalding Guide is an important early introduction to the rules that revolutionized the sport of football.